Tourism leaders have urged the Scottish Government to avoid further tax and regulatory burdens on businesses after new figures showed a sharp rise in international demand for Scotland.
VisitBritain figures show flight bookings to Scotland have increased by 15%, compared with falls of 5% for London airports and 4% for the rest of England.
Visa card spending in Scotland was also up 19% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, against 3% in England.
However, the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) warned that the domestic market remains weaker, with families spending less, bookings being made later and businesses continuing to face rising costs.
Ahead of First Minister John Swinney's Programme for Government today, the STA is calling for a new tourism and hospitality growth plan, targeted support for skills and apprenticeships and a commitment to impose no further tax or regulatory burdens.
Tourism Secretary Stephen Flynn said: “Our programme for government will unlock economic growth - by ensuring that Scotland is open for business and building on our many strengths.”